Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

A Heat to Overcome	By : Sparrowhawk Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > InuYasha/Sessh?maru > InuYasha/Sessh?maru Views: 31291 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the associated characters, nor do I make any profit from this fanfic. All other characters not associated with the original manga or anime, however, are mine.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
Hey ya'll, I'm baaaaaack! And, with a new chapter!!! Originally, this one was combined with another, but it would've made it SUPER long, so I decided to split them. Hope you like! But before that, reviews!
Madamdragon: Ha ha, I have to agree. I love a possessive Sesshomaru, too! Here's more for you. Please enjoy (:
Midnightsscream: Thank you so much! Well, can't say she's going to start cooperating anytime soon, and things are definitely going to get worse before they get better. I've already got her part pretty much planned out. Just hope it works with the rest of it and I don't have to change it. So happy you enjoyed the grooming scene! I must say, so far those are some of my favorite parts (: Hope you like this next chapter!
Vyperbites: Sorry, things got in the way. Life and ... well, mostly life, lol. Yes, it will take time, but things will be speeding along a little more as they get closer to when Inuyasha stops taking Tamae's potion to suppress his heat. Don't have much choice in that. Anyway, thanks for reviewing and I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
MoonlightVampiress: Ooh! I'm so happy you liked that part! It's definitely one of the most poignant parts I've been able to write. Akira is a good name. Hmm, I think I may have figured out who it's going to be. It is an OC, oh, and you got the black hair part right, too, lol. That's pretty dang good! Don't know about the "me" part, lol, but I'll definitely take suggestions for parts once it's revealed who he is (; Hey, hey! No kidnapping my characters!! Oh, but you must have given him back, cause he's in this chapter ... and the next actually. You get a better look into why he is the way he is. Not in this chapter, but the next. I'm so excited for it!! Hmm ... well, I can't say the person I have in mind has all those qualities ... least not obviously so, but I think he'll still be a good match for Suzu. We'll see how it goes and if you end up liking him or not (: (: Oooh, not a bad scene! Not bad at all, actually. You didn't butcher him too badly, no worries. With your permission, I may even use something similar to that, though I can't say the lines would be exactly the same since I already kinda know the personality of the person I'm going to, hopefully, put with Suzu. Thanks for the suggestions, though! They helped me a lot. Nope, nope, you're not weird. If you are *wink* then I most certainly am, too. Please enjoy the next chapter, and if you have any other suggestions, please don't hesitate to voice them!
Pumpkinpi: Thanks! Hope you enjoy the new chapter! Thanks for reviewing (:
Lina: Glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for leaving a review and I hope you enjoy the next installment (:
cocobyrd87: So glad you like it and so happy to see you left a review! It always makes me so excited when I get new reviewers (: Eventually they will figure out what was done to Kagome, the question is whether they figure it out in time. Here's the next chapter for you!
Warning for anyone who might like to know: profanity (maybe? can't really remember if there's any in this chapter or not), a few lengthy explanations, Suzu taking extreme action that results in ... well, you'll have to see, but don't worry, it's not permanent, I promise!!
Now, after that cryptic warning (sort of), on to the chapter!!

Chapter Nineteen
Suzu’s Resolution
Inuyasha slumped against his elder brother with a tired sigh. The day had been exhausting. Breakfast with his pack had gone well. Since they had a late breakfast, they weren’t obligated to sit with the entire court. Sesshomaru warned him he would be meeting the court later on, and to be prepared, which meant he was telling him to “behave himself.” Inuyasha had huffed at that, but had no reason to object to the daiyoukai’s warning. He knew his temper.
His pack came in shortly after he and Sesshomaru had seated themselves, Shippo among them this time. Conversation was kept to a minimum as servants moved in and out of the room setting out raw meat, fruits, and vegetables for those of demon descent and a traditional Japanese breakfast of cooked fish, pickled vegetables, and rice for the humans. There was a bit of small talk exchanged here and there, but nothing substantial. Inuyasha had been grateful for that. He didn’t want another argument started about his relationship with his sibling. Kagome, for her part, was quiet, expression thoughtful when Inuyasha caught her watching him sitting next to his elder brother. She didn’t speak the entire meal except to say good morning.
Shippo was similarly quiet. He greeted Inuyasha and Sesshomaru politely and then sat down to his meal. Inuyasha had gone to talk to him only to have Sesshomaru take him by the arm and silently shake his head. He had then leaned in to his ear. “Leave him be,” he had whispered. “Your kit is in the preparatory stages to entering maturity.”
“Preparatory stages?” Inuyasha repeated, also whispering.
“As a submissive dog demon, little brother, you were born into our father’s pack. Had our father lived he would be alpha to us both, and I alpha to you. Should I find a mate outside our father’s pack, it would have been my responsibility to persuade her or him to join as a submissive to our father. I would only go independent and form my own pack if father decided for one reason or another to send me away, or else, if he died. You would remain in father’s pack your entire life until the time in which you would be propositioned by an alpha demon from an outside pack, if that alpha demon was not amenable to joining our father’s pack.”
“Fox demons are altogether different. There are no alpha demons and no submissive demons. Once a fox demon reaches young Shippo’s age, their youki will begin to urge them to leave their father’s den—your den—in order to find a mate and form his own family. He is preparing for his first heat—spending more time away from you, learning how to hunt, forage, fight and, ultimately, be independent. The stage he is in now is a stage of separation. He is spending time away from you and your pack in order to rid himself of your protective scent—the scent that identifies him as a kit. During this time, he must be the one to seek you out, for he will not welcome your presence otherwise. Should you approach him during this time, he will either try to ignore you or he will be aggressive and confrontational to drive you away. For the time being, it would be prudent to wait him out, let him do as he must, and simply be there should he need you.”
Inuyasha had nodded at that. He didn’t know much about fox demons, but trusted in his brother’s wisdom.
Once they were all done eating, Sesshomaru had risen—pulling his reluctant hanyou sibling up with him—bade his guests a good day and dismissed them. With Inuyasha’s bodyguards—Shiro and Sho—in tow, they had then made their way to the indoor dojo. The dojo was a private one right next to the Lord of the West’s personal chambers and amply supplied with all kinds of weapons. Inuyasha’s eyes had widened, though it wasn’t the variety or quantity of weapons that had him standing with his mouth half open, hands trembling. Rather, it was seeing Tessaiga—their father’s sword—set on display between the swords Sesshomaru was normally armed with, set at the very front of the dojo, honored and respected. He wasn’t sure what it was he was feeling as he took a few tentative steps toward it. He knew the significance of the placing. It meant Sesshomaru had truly accepted him into his household. It meant Sesshomaru honored and respected him. It meant his brother wanted to share his home with him, wanted him to share in his responsibilities, and it meant he wanted Inuyasha to wield the sword once more.
He stopped in front of his father’s fabled sword and dropped to his knees, caressing the sheath with gentle fingers. It hummed quietly under his hand. Could he take up Tessaiga again? Was he strong enough? Would the sword still accept his right to wield it? Or had he grown too weak? Suzu had been right. He felt unworthy of the mighty fang of the great Inu no Taisho. He felt weak and insignificant and so woefully inadequate.
Unsure, he glanced back over his shoulder at his brother who had entered the room behind him, slid the door closed, and now stood silently watching him. The elder inu youkai didn’t do or say anything, and so Inuyasha turned back to the sword. “You don’t wear your swords inside the palace?” he asked, having nothing better to say.
“Whether I wear my swords on my person or not is oftentimes dictated by my schedule for the day.”
“Isn’t that a little … dangerous? What if someone attacks the palace and you can’t get to your weapons in time?”
“My weapons are not the only things that make me dangerous, ototo,” Sesshomaru answered, his mouth curving up into a wicked smile.
Smiling ruefully back at his sibling, Inuyasha rubbed his hand over the scar caused by the elder inu youkai’s hand punching into his chest. “Don’t I know it.”
“In any case, during my childhood and adolescence Father taught me nothing except how to defend myself using the weapons I was born with—namely, my claws, fangs, and poison. That is also what I will be teaching you for your first few lessons.”
“I already know how to defend myself,” Inuyasha retorted with a sniff.
“Yes, little brother, you know how to defend yourself—against lesser demons only. Tell me, have you defeated even one higher class demon without the use of Tessaiga?”
Inuyasha frowned, almost pouting. “Depends on what you call a higher class demon.”
“Could you defeat me without our father’s sword, Inuyasha? Can you defeat a daiyoukai?”
“That’s … That’s not fair, Sessh,” Inuyasha muttered, lowering his head in defeat. “You know I wouldn’t stand a chance against you without Tessaiga. That’s part o’ the reason the old man gave me the sword.”
“Yes, that is true. However, when I am finished with you, you will no longer need to reply upon Tessaiga’s power to fight and defeat youkai of even my stature,” Sesshomaru softly said as he moved further into the room and knelt next to his baby brother, taking the hanyou’s hand reassuringly. “I will train you so that the next time you go up against a demon lord like Michio, you will not lose.”
“Y-You can … teach me how to do that?”
“Perhaps. The success of my training will depend entirely upon how hard you are willing to work and how determined you are to succeed.”
After that, Sesshomaru had fallen into a fighting stance and proceeded to show him different martial arts techniques, which he called katas. He started with what he called an elementary kata, demonstrating it before letting Inuyasha try the kata himself. It turned out to be a hell of a lot more difficult than Inuyasha would have ever thought with the effortless way his brother flowed through the motions. It took a tremendous amount of precision and balance, both of which Inuyasha lacked as he was still recovering from his injuries. By the end of the training session, he had fallen over no less than twenty-three times. Far from being disappointed, Sesshomaru had simply shown him where he had gone wrong, where his balance was off, and encouraged him to continue. The longer he worked at it, the more often he did it, the easier it would become until it all flowed naturally.
If Inuyasha was being honest with himself, he had half-expected Sesshomaru to get fed up with him the moment he screwed up and start insulting him, his intelligence, his mother, and everything else. In the past, that was what had motivated him most to keep fighting, to get stronger, to stand up again after being beaten to the ground. The sting of his sibling’s insults had made him determined that he would make the icy bastard eat his words. When the insults didn’t come and were, instead, replaced with encouragement, it bred in him something not altogether different from that drive to win, but several shades stronger—the drive to make his aniki proud. He didn’t want to disappoint Sesshomaru. He wanted to prove that he was strong, that he would be a worthy ruler, a worthy companion to the Lord of the West.
They had spent the majority of the morning in the dojo. Once Sesshomaru called a halt to their activities there, they had moved to the gardens to rest and cool off in the refreshing morning air. They had stayed there in the garden their father had planted for Inuyasha until noon when Sesshomaru pulled a reluctant and sleepy hanyou back into the palace for lunch, which was where they could be found now. They used a smaller, familial dining hall for the afternoon meal. When they held meals with the entire court, so Sesshomaru told him, they would use the larger, formal dining hall.
“Tired?” Sesshomaru asked, smiling down at his baby brother whose head lolled against his arm.
“Hm,” Inuyasha grunted, too worn to give more of a response.
“Did I work you too hard, pup?”
Growling a little, Inuyasha butted his head against his aniki’s shoulder in reproach. “I jus’ need some food in me, then I’ll be fine.”
“Good to know. The West’s generals will be joining us for lunch along with Jaken so that we might discuss the subjects you will be learning.”
Inuyasha groaned. “Do we hafta?”
“Yes, little one, this is something we must do, unpleasant as it must seem.”
Inuyasha continued to grumble, but said nothing more as the door to the dining hall opened and Sango and Miroku walked in followed by Kagome and—surprisingly enough—Kouga as well as his two buffoons who, Inuyasha now realized, must be the bastard’s bodyguards since he was considered a prince, who was then followed by Shippo. He noted the kit’s bodyguards, two fox demons, as they and Ginta and Hakaku moved to stand against the wall next to Shiro and Sho. Behind them came a turtle demon, an elderly bird demon of the raven race, the tiger demon Bishamon, and Suzu bringing up the rear.
“Milord!” a shrill voice called.
Oh yeah, the little green imp was there, too. Goody, Inuyasha thought with a groan as he flattened his ears back against his head to keep out the toad’s high-pitched voice.
“I have gathered the generals as you have commanded, milord.”
Sesshomaru inclined his head. “Very good, Jaken. You may be seated.”
Giving an excited little bow, the kappa scampered to the very end of the large table and took a seat on the small, raised cushion there. Sesshomaru then gestured for Inuyasha’s pack, plus Kouga, to take their seats closest to where they sat, followed by the generals. Inuyasha wondered whether there was a significance to the arrangement, but discarded that thought soon after. This was an informal dining hall. The arrangement was simply however they decided to seat themselves and, in this case, they followed Sesshomaru’s direction since he was the head of the household.
The servants came out from the kitchens soon after and served a meal as large and lavish as breakfast had been that morning. Inuyasha worried that he might get fat eating all this good food every single day while he was recovering and still unable to exert himself overly much. After all, in the wild he had had to scrounge for food and went hungry more often than not, not to mention he was always fighting or running from something. It was weird being able to eat three meals a day, every day, without having to worry about someone trying to steal it from him. Things had been a little more stable since he had formed his pack, but still, always being on the move was hard.
“Inuyasha?” Sesshomaru called, voice raised in question as he noticed the hanyou’s distraction. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“Oh, no … nothin’ like that. I was just thinkin’ that I’m gonna get fat eatin’ all this food every day.”
“Do not be ridiculous, little brother, we do not get fat. And you are nowhere near the point of overeating. I expect the slavers did not feed you well while you were imprisoned. A few pounds more will do you good. You are entirely too thin.”
“I’ve always been thin,” Inuyasha muttered rebelliously even as he picked up another slice of raw meat from his plate and ate it in two large bites.
“Which is why you should indulge yourself as much as possible now,” Sesshomaru responded with a gentle expression. “I asked you to let me take care of you, and I mean to do so in every feasible way, little one.” Blushing beautifully, his little brother ducked his head back down to focus on his food and Sesshomaru resumed sipping at his after meal wine. Eating with the pup in his rooms had been nice, but this … having him sit beside him presiding over a meal with his highest ranking officers and the pup’s mostly human pack made the fact that he was truly going to bring his little brother back into his household all the more real. It served as proof for his generals and as proof for Inuyasha’s friends—those that cared—that he would keep his word.
“Monk Miroku,” Sesshomaru said suddenly, turning to the human man to Inuyasha’s right.
“Yes, my Lord?”
“How are you finding palace life? I hope you are comfortable in the rooms that have been provided for you.”
A little surprised at being asked that now, of all times, Miroku nodded soberly. “Very much so, Lord Sesshomaru, thank you for asking.”
Sesshomaru thoughtfully swirled his wine. “My servants are performing to your satisfaction then? They are treating you well?”
“Oh yes, their service is more than satisfactory.”
“I am pleased to hear that. Have you spoken to Sasaki concerning further training of your powers?”
“Yes, I have. Sasaki-san has been most helpful. I confess to be somewhat surprised at the volumes of books and scrolls your library holds pertaining to human magic and sacred powers. It is rather overwhelming. With Sasaki-san’s help, though, I’m finding the information I need to continue strengthening and training my sacred powers. Sasaki-san has estimated that they have room to grow almost two-fold.”
“That is good news. You are quite powerful for a human. The stronger your powers become, the less you will find you need to rely upon that curse Naraku put on your hand. Our father thought it wise to learn the ways human powers work. Therefore, he collected what books and scrolls he could to further his knowledge in the sacred and magical arts. After all, if we do not understand human powers, how are we to protect ourselves against them when confronted by humans with such abilities?”
“A good question,” Miroku remarked amiably. “Your father was a wise man.”
“Indeed.” He turned his eyes upon the woman sitting next to the monk. “I do not believe we have been properly introduced, slayer.”
Setting her fork to the side with a smile, Sango inclined her head politely. “My father gave me the name Sango, which has the meaning of coral. As you have already indicated, my occupation is that of a slayer of youkai.”
“It is my understanding that your father was the head of your village before it was destroyed, is that not so?”
Surprised that the youkai lord would know that, Sango answered slowly, “That is correct. When he passed, his position was to be inherited by my younger brother, Kohaku. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to thank you for sparing his life when you last encountered him under the influence of Naraku.”
“Your thanks is unnecessary. It was not my intention to spare him,” Sesshomaru refuted as he brought his glass to his lips and took a small sip. “As I stated that night, I would have only done as Naraku wanted had I slain your brother. I had been lured into his traps enough; I had no intention of essentially walking straight into his hands again. A human brat is hardly worth the effort regardless.”
“True,” Sango agreed congenially. “Whatever reason you may have had for sparing him, though, does not in any way diminish the gratitude I feel for the staying of your hand.”
Nodding once, Sesshomaru steered the conversation away from her brother. “Might I inquire after your comfort?”
“I am comfortable, my Lord. Your servants are perfectly respectful and more than accommodating. Although … I wonder if, perhaps, there is a place where I might exercise my weapons skills? I am a slayer, after all.”
“You and your companions are welcome to use the dojo in the southern wing of the palace. Should you desire sparring partners, Suzu,” he paused to look over at the flirtatious peacock general who gave him a solemn nod to show he was listening and agreed, “can introduce you to soldiers with adequate skills to challenge your prowess. Or if that is not to your satisfaction, you may attend the drills the soldiers go through every morning in the eastern courtyard.”
“Thank you, my Lord.”
This went on for several long minutes as Sesshomaru asked each of Inuyasha’s pack how they were, if they were comfortable, if they needed anything, and any number of other things. Inuyasha was impressed that he was making such an effort to be accommodating to his human guests. Miroku and Shippo seemed the most comfortable with the daiyoukai. Sango was polite, but a little distant. That wasn’t all that strange, though. Sesshomaru had been an enemy not too long ago, after all. Inuyasha often forgot that fact. The daiyoukai was so different. It almost felt as if they had always been this way. He knew it wasn’t really rational, but he liked the feeling nonetheless.
After he had finished discussing some political bullshit with Kouga, Sesshomaru finally turned his attention on Kagome. Inuyasha had noticed that ever since the priestess had freaked out about their relationship, Sesshomaru had acted decidedly cold toward her. Not quite hostile, but not as politely as he acted toward Sango, not even with the aloof indifference he used when speaking to Kouga.
Inuyasha shivered when he glimpsed the ice lying behind his sibling’s golden eyes, remembering a time when the same kind of unfeeling gaze had been turned on him. He understood why the demon lord was acting the way he was toward her. His youki, especially, understood the reasons for it. But that didn’t mean he liked it.
“Kagome,” he called before his brother could say anything. He saw the daiyoukai turn to look at him out of the corner of his eye, golden eyes narrowed in displeasure, but he forged on. “How’ve you been? Ya doin’ all right?”
She smiled radiantly at him, which only made Sesshomaru growl and wrap a possessive arm around his waist. Inuyasha fought to keep a straight face. His aniki’s jealousy was rather funny. Still, he placed his hand atop his brother’s, squeezing reassuringly. Sesshomaru was his alpha, seme, and soon to be mate. Kagome wasn’t even competition.
“You don’t need to worry, Inuyasha, I’m doing fine. The rooms are comfortable and everyone’s nice. It’s a beautiful palace with so much room I wouldn’t know what to do with half of it. If you decide to settle down here, I’m sure you’ll be perfectly content.”
Sesshomaru’s growl increased in volume, though not to a level anyone apart from Inuyasha on his right and Shippo on his left would be able to hear. “When he settles down here, I am certain he will be more than content.”
Kagome inclined her head. “Of course.”
“He is, after all, to become the secondary ruler of the West,” Sesshomaru continued frigidly. “His place is here, and to here he will return.”
Inuyasha snorted. “That’s my decision, isn’t it aniki?”
“Indeed it is, little brother,” Sesshomaru agreed far more easily than Inuyasha would have expected after the way he was acting toward Kagome. “I expect you to stay here in the palace with me for some time, though. Particularly, after your heat has concluded.”
Sesshomaru gave him a meaningful look, and Inuyasha knew he meant if he was pupped during that time. He didn’t even think to protest. If he did get pupped during his heat, he knew on an instinctual level that he would need the protection his alpha would provide. Sesshomaru was strong, his youki told him, strong enough to protect him and his pups from any and all potential dangers. Once he was pupped, he would need to stay close to his alpha.
“Agreed?” the demon lord prompted.
Inhaling deeply of his alpha’s dominant musk, Inuyasha nodded, the scent calming him. “Hai.”
Eyes noticeably softening, Sesshomaru removed his arm from his sibling’s waist and instead, took his chin in his hand. He saw his baby brother’s eyes widen in momentary panic and reassuringly stroked his thumb along his jawline. He wouldn’t kiss him again so soon. Not after last night. That had been traumatic enough for the skittish inu.
“Trust me,” he mouthed.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Inuyasha closed his eyes. Sesshomaru leaned forward approvingly and brushed his cheek along that of his brother before moving back again and doing the same to the other side. The hanyou’s breathing was slightly fast, but not enough to cause concern. Sesshomaru knew the gesture between them must look odd to many of their audience, but it was a gesture specific to canine and feline youkai, one meant to convey reassurance, comfort, and security as well as to layer his dominant scent upon his submissive to warn other dominant males away. He continued to rub his cheek against the younger inu’s until he began to reciprocate the movement. Then he drew back for a third time, waited for his sibling’s eyes to open in adorable confusion, before leaning forward once more to press his lips to his forehead.
“Saniiro,” Sesshomaru suddenly called, causing the elderly raven youkai to almost jerk with surprise and then raise his eyes defiantly as if he hadn’t just been glowering at Inuyasha from across the room. “Lord Inuyasha is in need of lessons. I am assigning you to teach him what he needs to know about military maneovers and strategy.”
“My Lord,” Saniiro protested, disgust plain as he glanced at where Sesshomaru’s hand lingered on his younger brother’s neck in a gesture that spoke of affection so clearly. “Surely General Roka would be far better suited to—”
Sesshomaru cut him off, “Roka will not be available. This Sesshomaru has certain assignments for him that will require much of his time. You are the next best option. You will teach Lord Inuyasha and you will do so with the utmost respect or you will face this Sesshomaru’s displeasure and be dismissed from your position. Lord Inuyasha is your superior, in blood as well as in rank. If you cannot accept this Sesshomaru’s decision, then you have no place here.”
His upper lip curling in distaste, Saniiro bowed his head. “I will do as you command, my Lord.”
Sesshomaru then turned to the kappa at the end of the table. “Jaken, you will also be teaching Lord Inuyasha.”
“I will most gladly do as you command, milord, but … what subjects am I to teach the half br—” Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and with a squeak the toad stopped, swallowed, and restarted. “What subjects am I to teach Lord Inuyasha?”
“You are to tutor him in proper court etiquette, the history of how the West came to be, the history of the people of the West, the cultures of all the major youkai and human clans within and surrounding the West, inu youkai customs, and anything else he may need to know as a secondary ruler. Bishamon,” he said, turning to the tiger youkai.
“Sirrre?”
“You are to tutor Lord Inuyasha in math and accounting, economics, exports and imports, and foreign diplomacy.”
“Sirrre, as willing as I am to comply to yourrr wishes, I don’t want to leave Fuyuki alone forrrr any length of time while he is still rrrrrecovering. Is it possible forrrr him to attend the tutoring sessions with Lorrrd Inuyasha?”
Sesshomaru knew it wasn’t because Fuyuki was recovering, but rather, because the neko child had caught Bishamon’s youki’s interest. The neko had been identified as a possible mate by his youki and there was nothing Bishamon wouldn’t do to be able to keep the leopard youkai with him as much as was possible. In fact, he was quite surprised the tiger demon hadn’t brought the neko child to lunch with him. “If it is his wish to attend, he may. The sessions will be held within my outer rooms for Lord Inuyasha’s comfort. Suzu,” he continued on.
“Yes, my Lord?” the peacock demon asked huskily.
Inuyasha frowned at the bird general, disliking the way his eyes raked over Sesshomaru’s body. Sesshomaru was his, damn it! No one should be looking at him that way. No one but him, that is.
Sesshomaru paused, somewhat surprised to hear a possessive growl coming from his little brother. He cocked his head and followed the younger inu’s line of sight, suppressing a smirk when he realized it was Suzu the growl was meant for. How interesting. Inuyasha was jealous. Of Suzu of all people.
“I have a special assignment for you, Suzu,” Sesshomaru went on, sly eyes watching his sibling’s reaction as the flirtatious peacock youkai leaned over the table, brown eyes sultry, pheromones wafting off him in powerful bursts. He knew, of course, the former assassin was doing it on purpose to rile up his hanyou brother, but for once he was allowing it. Just this once, just to see how his sibling reacted to having someone encroach on his alpha—his territory.
“Special, my Lord?” Suzu inquired, licking full pink lips, voice a seductive purr. “What kind of special is this assignment? Will I need to make preparations or would you rather I … come as is?”
When Inuyasha’s growl grew louder, Sesshomaru moved his hand from the side of the younger inu’s neck to his shoulder, grasping his quivering submissive bracingly. Inuyasha immediately ceased the angry noise and turned slightly confused and annoyed eyes on his alpha, wondering at the tiny, contented smile that graced the daiyoukai’s mouth, wondering still more at why the older inu had stopped him.
Suzu, not oblivious to the sudden tension in the room or the younger shiro inu’s reaction to his flirting, smiled as he observed the interaction between his Lord and Master and the daiyoukai’s endearing younger brother. They were quite a match. Perfect for one another. After everything the demon lord had done for him, the least he could do was give the shy inu hanyou a shove in the right direction.
“Be calm, Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru murmured, unresisting as his sibling practically crawled into his lap and pushed his head up under his chin. “Suzu presents no threat to your claim. I am yours, as you are mine.”
“He wants you.”
“Perhaps, but I do not want him.”
Inuyasha growled quietly and nipped his alpha’s throat. “His youki and scent make you want him. Even his voice makes you want him. I can smell your desire.”
“I do not want him,” Sesshomaru repeated, biting down firmly on the hanyou’s ear in reproach and tugging lightly on it until Inuyasha let out a high-pitched whine of apology. Lapping at the bruised appendage soothingly, the daiyoukai went on knowledgeably, “His youki and scent act as an aphrodisiac to males, it attracts them, makes them want him. My body reacts to him, but my youki only wants you, little one.”
“He doesn’t make me want him,” Inuyasha muttered with a frown. “His scent makes me sneeze. I don’t like it. It’s too sweet. Makes me feel kinda dizzy, actually.”
Sesshomaru’s eyes softened in understanding. “Because you are submissive to an alpha already. Suzu is also a submissive, but he is without a dominant,” Sesshomaru answered with a soothing rumble. “While there is yet an alpha inu you defer to, you will not be attracted to any other submissives regardless of their appeal.”
Still frowning, Inuyasha flicked his ears uncertainly and tilted his head to look up into his brother’s sunfire eyes. “You are mine?”
“I am yours—your alpha. No one can change that. No one can take your place at my side.”
Exhaling through his nose in a very inu-type way, Inuyasha eyed the peacock demon warily before snorting again and shaking his head as if to shake off a pesky bug. Suzu gave him a cocky smirk and winked, to which Inuyasha merely blinked as if coming out of a trance and looked away, blushing a little in embarrassment for his behavior. Crawling into his brother’s lap? What was he thinking?! He blamed it entirely on his youki. Even so, he didn’t much feel like moving back to his own seat, nor did Sesshomaru seem to mind his position.
“Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru called, bringing his sibling’s attention back to him. He smiled softly at the lovely blush adorning the young inu’s cheeks. “You’ve expressed interest in being able to fight daiyoukai without the aid of Tessaiga. I need to know, if ever you are captured again—” He stopped and comfortingly cupped his baby brother’s cheek. As expected, he was trembling. Panic barely held at bay. “I will do my utmost to ensure that you are never again taken from me, little one. But if ever you are captured again, ototo, by Michio or any other poisonous demon, are you willing to do what is necessary to make certain their poison cannot effect you? I do not want to see you made helpless.”
“You can do that?”
Sesshomaru shook his head. “I cannot, but Suzu can. It will be difficult. It may even put your life at risk.”
Inuyasha frowned and laid his head down against his aniki’s chest, taking comfort from the steady heartbeat he could feel under his cheek. “Do you think I should?”
“I believe it would benefit you greatly should you decide to go through with it,” the demon lord responded slowly, threading his fingers through the silky strands of white hair that fell loose down his sibling’s back—so much like his own.
“Yeah, but … you think I need this, don’t you?”
“I think … you need the opportunity to prove to yourself that you are strong enough to fight, that you had and still do have the strength necessary to overcome Michio’s poison, that you would have eventually been able to fight against him given enough time. I think you need that proof.”
Breathing in deeply, Inuyasha nodded, knowing the demon lord was right. “I’ll do it.”
Understanding well how hard this was going to be for the young hanyou, Sesshomaru simply continued to run his fingers through Inuyasha’s hair, scratching lightly at his scalp and the base of his ears.
Suzu grinned to himself. He couldn’t hear what they were discussing as they were speaking in rather low tones, but he saw the looks that passed between them, the intimate gestures, the affectionate touches. It looked like life in the palace was going to become enormously entertaining now that Lord Sesshomaru had accepted his brother back into the western palace. The young Lord was remarkably easy to mess with.
“Suzu,” Sesshomaru said, drawing the peacock general’s attention back to the task at hand. “You will be teaching Lord Inuyasha about poisons, poison-making, how to administer them, and you will also be aiding him in creating immunity to the most common and most deadly of the poisons—particularly those meant for inu youkai.”
All pretenses of flirtation disappeared at that declaration and Suzu slowly and somberly set down the persimmon he had been about to eat. “My Lord … creating immunity to poisons is highly dangerous. It involves administering a poison in greater and greater dosages until the body becomes used to it. One could very easily succumb to the poison before their body developes any kind of antibodies to counteract the destructive properties of the dosage. I will agree to teach him how to make and administer poisons. I will also teach him to make the antidotes I know, but to administer poison to my Lord’s younger brother and the Second Lord of the West … I cannot do.”
“This Sesshomaru is immune to poisons, toxins, and venom as a demon with poison capabilities as well as possessing one of the most deadly poisons known to demonkind. Lord Inuyasha does not have that protection. He must develop immunity lest he go to battle against another youkai with poison capabilities, lest he come face to face with Michio once more. He already has a slight resistance to mine and other dog demon poisons, but there must not be even the smallest chance that someone could drug or kill him through slipping poison into his food or drink. You will aid Lord Inuyasha in becoming immune to poisons, Suzu. This Sesshomaru has every confidence in your skills.”
“Trying to build immunity to poisons is often a case of flirting with death, my Lord. I do not wish to be responsible for your younger brother’s passing.”
“Do you think I would let my brother die, Suzu?” Sesshomaru challenged, eyes flashing dangerously.
Suzu didn’t back down and, instead, leaned forward to meet the challenge with one of his own, brown eyes hard and cold. “Can you prove that you can save him?”
The demon lord’s eyes narrowed as he measured the intentions of his most trusted general and then lowered his eyes to consider Inuyasha. The pup stared back up at him trustingly. “I can.”
Suzu’s normally warm brown eyes measured him coolly from head to toe before a mischievous smile worked its way across his lips. “I hope you mean that, my Lord,” he murmured as he withdrew a vial from the lining of the obi wrapped about the waist of his hakama and, popping the lid, downed it in one swallow.
Inuyasha’s eyes widened in alarm. “Did he just …?”
“Yes,” Sesshomaru confirmed indifferently. “He ingested poison. One of the few still able to kill him.”
“That’s crazy! I mean … shouldn’t someone be getting a healer? Where’s Tamae?!”
“Unfortunately, Tamae does not have the skill nor the necessary antidote to save me, Lord Inuyasha,” Suzu explained calmly, looking for all the world as if he was talking about nothing more than how warm the day had been. “Nor will she be able to get here in time. The poison I ingested works quickly. I have only seconds left to live. If I am to be saved, it will be up to your brother to do so.”
“Sessh?” Inuyasha whispered nervously.
“All will be well, little one. Be calm.” Turning toward one wall where his bodyguards stood ready, Sesshomaru gestured for the marten demon to approach. “Yuudai, fetch Tenseiga from this Sesshomaru’s private dojo.”
The marten youkai bowed sharply and left the room at a run. Still smiling, Suzu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes unconcernedly.
“Sessh …” Inuyasha called anxiously, voice little more than a whisper in the quiet that had fallen.
“It will be fine, little one.”
“But Sessh, he’s not really going to die, is he?”
“He is already dead.”
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A/N: No term definitions needed in this chapter, I think. Hope you all liked! Sorry about the cliffie!! Seriously, I'll get the next chapter out soon (since it is an extension of this chapter), I promise! Next Saturday at the latest! Ja ne!
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A Heat to Overcome